Solid rectifier for feeble electric currents.



G. W. PICKARD.

SOLID RECTIFIER FOR FEEBLE ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 9, 1907.

1, 1 3%? 1 Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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Attest: v i I I v J fiwfmwfiomw Atty Inventor:

To all whom it may concern: 1

sums-PA NT anion.

Grammar wnrrrmarrcxama, or Amissumr," messacnnsnrrs.

Be it known that I, GREENLEAF Wnrr TIER PICKARD, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the'town of Amesbury, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Solid Rectifiers for Feeble- E1ec-;

tri'c Currents, the principles of which are set'iforth in the following specification and.

accompanying drawings, which disclose the form of the invention which I now consider to be the best of the various forms in which said principles may be embodied.

The invention relates to oscillation-detectingmeans for receiving intelligence communicated by electric waves, as by wire-H 'less tele The 0 ject of the invention lslto provlde aphy or telephony.

an improved form of holder' for-use'as de-.

tectors of the class disclosed in inyfPatent No. 836,531 of Novembei 20,1906. The invention consists of mechanical holders, substantially as herein described.

Of the draWingsFigure 1 is a vertical section of a complete embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 2' is a plan of the same;

The operating conducting members are shown at A and'B, and may be of brass and silicon respectively, or of equivalents. The binding posts for the circuit terminals are at E and E, Figs. 2 and 1, and the circuits may be any suitable ones, such as disclosed in my patent above specified. Thepermanent leads, A from member A, and B from member B, (Fig. 2) lie 'in the insulating base I, in holes drilled horizontally from the recesses for the heads of screws H and D to the recesses for the heads of the binding posts. 40

'The member A is mounted in the bracket Z, being confined by a sliding fit in a sleeve support, or plunger L, which in turn is confined and has a'sliding fit in the guide G which constitutes the end of bracket Z,

this bracket being'secured'to the insulating base Iby the screw D and pin-N. A metallic helical Springs is held between the cap or finger piece C (which is integral with 01-,Sbld8r8d't0 sleeve L), and the top sleeve L from below and is"pressed'down- 'ward into'substantially perfect contact with m'ember B at any point such as T J. The conductor A is unrestrainedly adjustable up of spring Sf- 'l iieoperator, his finger of conducting rod A.. Conductor A enters and down in pluifgei L'within the elastic embedded in fusible bers of the 'Specification.Lettrsratent. Patented a aaieia. Application mea'mmh 9, 1907. SerialNo.361,444. I I

- oncap Gaby alternate successive depressing spring in this state by a slight quick turn of clamping-screw W, which clamps plun- 'ger L in guideG and prevents further. varlation of sprmg pressure. After this ad- ]ustment is made and fixed, the device will remain properly operative for indefinite periods under. substantially constant operating conditions.

The lower end of support L,by its ability to abut against conductor B, serves to prevent adjustment beyond a predetermined degree of pressure which mlght m ure the surfaces of the'conductors,

'p'articularly the polished surface of conductor Ba- K The conductor B, which maybe the pure natural element silicon, or an equivalent sensitive conductor of high resistivity, is metal M in the metal cup P, which cup rests on the metallic conducting'base K held to insulating base I by screw= H and pin N. The pressure of spring Skeeps in good contact the bottom of cup P and the topof conducting base K. The cup P- is' unrestrainedly movable manually in the-plane-of the top of base K. After the operator'- has. obtained the optimum spring pressure, as described above, he slides 't e cup P about on top of base K, to find the optimum place of contact of conductor A on the surface of conductor B, which surface is level to maintain uniform pressure of springs, and may be polished. In Fig. 2 the cup P is shown offset from a 'central position, this being one of the many positions to which the operator may freely move it with his fingers.

Of course, various mechanical equivalents of the holder hereof may be made, which will substantially possess the essential features of the invent-ion.- While the perfect contact detector may be -usefully employed without all the mechanical features of'this invention, it is believed that the holder herein disclosed is the most advantageous one in which to employ most of the substances which may be used as memperfect contact detector."

I claim: 1 1 1. A'holder for anelectrical oscillation tacting conductor mounting one of said fixing means,

detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, means for supporting one conin a fixed position with respect to movement toward the other; a sleeve plunger in which the other contacting conductor is mounted and confined so as to be adjustable only to andz'fromnthe fixed conductor; a guide in which the sleeve pluner is mounted and confined so as to be adustable only to and from the fixed conductor; and a spring held inside the sleeve plunger and pressing the adjustable conductor against the fixed conductor, said sleeve plunger and spring being proportioned to prevent an adjustment of pressure exceeding a. predetermined maximum, and said guide being'fixedly supported to prevent unrestrained bodily movement relative to its support.

2. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contacttype, comprising in combination, a spring pressing'one contacting conductor against the other, 1 means for fixingthe spring at a definite state, of pressure; said spring being unrestrainedly adjustable, when notheld by said fixing means, within wide limits of pressure and means permitting the contact of one conductor with various difierent parts of the opposing surface of the other conductor.

3. A holder for. an electrical oscillation detector of the contact-type, comprising in combination, an insulating base; .means for the two detector-conductors on said base and providing a low resistance contact with the circuit terminal; a bracket mounted on said base and carrying a guide; a supporting plunger, mounted in theguide, for the second detector-conductor, and adjustable only to and from the first conductor; the second conductor being mov able in said supporting-plunger only to and from the first conductor; means for pressing the second conductor against the first conductor; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts of the opposing surface of the other conductor.- I I 4. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a spring pressing one of the contacting conductors against the other; means for fixing the spring at a definite state of pressure; a supporting plunger for the spring, said plunger and spring being unrestrainedly adjustable, when not held by within wide limits of spring pressure; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts of' the opposing surface of the other conductor. A

5. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a spring-pressm one conductor against the other; "means or fixing the spring at a definite state of pressure; a supunrestrainedly mov- 6. A holder for an electrical oscillation I:

detector of the contacttype, comprising m combination, a helical spring pressing one contactingi conductor against the other; means for fixing the spring at a definite-state of ressure; a sleeve plunger in which the helical spring is mounted;,a guide in which the plunger is'unrestrainedly movable within wide limits when not held by said'fixi-ng means; and means for ermitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts .of the opposing surface of the other conductor. l v

A holder for an electricaloscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a helical spring pressing one contacting conductor against the other;

helical spring is mounted and which receives a portion of one of the detector-conductors so that the spring operates between the plunger and such conductor; a guide in which the plunger-is unrestrainedly movable within wide limits when not held by said fixing.

means; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts of the opposing surface of the other conductor.

8. A holder for an electrical oscillation de 4 tector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a helical spring pressing one con-- tacting conductor against the other; means forfixing the spring at a definite state' of pressure; a sleeve plunger in which the helical spring is mounted and which receives a portion of one of the detector-conductors; a guide m which the plunger isunrestrainedly movable toward the other detector-conductor older for an electrical oscillation when not held by said fixing means; and

detector of the contact type, comprising 111*- combination, a plunger; a spring operated-- by the plunger to press one contacting conductor against the other; a guide in which the plunger is freely adjustable toward the conductors; a clamp to fix the plunger at any desired position in the guide; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts. of the opposing" surface of the other conductor.

10. Aholder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a plunger a spring operated by ger in any desired position in the guide;'

and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts of the opposing surface of the other conductor.

11. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the-contact type, comprising in combination, two cooperating solid contact-' ing conductors, one of which is unrestrainedly movable in a definite plane; a spring pressing against the other conductor; -a plunger between which and the second conductor the spring is located; a guide in which the plunger is unrestrainedly movable toward the first conductor; means, op-

erable at will, to fix the plunger in the guide; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts of the opposing-surface of the other conductor. 7

12. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a spring pressing one conductor against the other; means for instantly fixing the spring at a definitestate of pressure; said spring being unrestrainedly adjustable, when not held by said fixing means, within wide limits of spring pressure; means for preventing a spring-pressure in excess of a predetermined maximum; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various different parts of the opposing surface of the other conductor.

13. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, the two contacting conductors, means for fixing one of the detector-conductors from all movement except to and from the second detector-conductor; a conducting base on the surface of which the second conductor is unrestrainedly movable, said second conductor having a level surface engaging the first conductor; a spring pressing the, first conductor against the second conductor, and thereby pressing the second conductor against its conducting base to hold it in a fixed operative position; and means for permitting the contact of one conductor with various-difierent parts of the opposing surface of the other conductor.

14. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a spring which operatively holds the two contacting conductors in con-' 15. A holder for an electrical oscillation- .will of various contact points on the'surface detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, an extension from one of the contacting conductors, a support containing the same and normally affording free relative movement for said parts ina direction to andgfrom the-operatingcontact, a sprin acting to press said extension-through said support toward the cooperating contacting conductor to effect an operative "normally fixed and small-aread contact, means whereby said support is adjustable to vary. the effect. of said spring; and meansnormally permitting manual relative movement of the contacting conductors to permit selection at I of one of the contacting conductors. l

16. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, which coinprises, in combination with the two effective contacting conductors, a helical spring arranged to cause one conductor to press against the other, means for freely and unrestrainedly adjusting said spring within wlde limits .of contact-pressure; means for normally fixing said spring against pressureyarylng movement; and means for supporting said other conductor and maintaining its connection in circuit, while permitting said conductor to be freely and unrestrain: edly moved about at will into various different points of contact with the springcontrolled conductor.

17. In an oscillation detector, the combination with two contacting conductors, one havlng a substantially flat contact face and the other .a substantially point contact arranged to extend toward the contact face of the first; of. a'helical spring arranged to press the said two conductors together; and a holder for the conductor which has a substantially fiat contact face, constructed to combined contacting conductor.

ductor to adjust the effective contact pressure of the spring, all whereby the spring can be compressed and its contacting conductor be withdrawn from the opposing surface of the other contacting conductor, without altering the effective contact pressure of the spring; and means permitting the contact of one contacting conductorwith \arious different parts of the opposing sur-' face oi the other contacting conductor.

19. A holder for an electrical oscillation detector of the contact type, comprising in combination, a helical spring acting to press one contacting conductor against the other; a sleeve constructed independently of the contact conductors and containing said helical spring, and in which the spring is always freely movable, said sleeve being provided with a (fixed abutment for that end of the spring which is themore remote from tion with two contacting conductors, one

having a substantially flat contact face and:

the other a substantially point contact, arranged to extend toward thecontact face of the first; a helical spring arranged to press the two contacts together; a device, additional to the contacting conductors themselves, for holding and inclosing said spring; and means constructed and arranged to permit the movement of one contact transversely of the other, and thereby permit the point contact to engage with all parts of the face contact.

21. In an oscillation-detector of the contact type, the combination with an operating conductor normally in fixed and smallaread contact with a second conductor, of a sleeve, a helical spring inclosed in the sleeve and determining the operating pressure of the contact, a sleeve support in which the sleeve is mounted to 'move for spring-adjustment, means for fixing the sleeve in its adjusted position, and means normally permitting manual relative movement of the contacting conductors to permit selection at will of various contact points on the surface of the operating conductor.

22. In an oscillation-detector ,of the contact type, the combination with a sleeve, of a helical spring inclosed in the sleeve and determining the pressure of the operating contact, a sleevevsupport in which the sleeve is mounted to move for spring-adjustment, a rod mounted in the sleeve to permit relative sliding movement of the sleeve and rod, said rod being pressed by the spring to effect fixed and small-aread operating contact, and means normally permitting man- 20. In an oscillation detector the combinaual relative movement of the contacting conductors, to permit selection at will of various operating contact points.

23. In an oscillation-detector of the contact type, the combination with an operating conductor normally 'in'fixed and smallaread contact with a second conductor, of a sleeve, a support for the sleeve intermediate the ends thereof and in which the sleeve is movably adjustable, a conducting member slidably mounted in the sleeve and extend.- ing through an end thereof toward the operative contact, a helical spring inclosed in the sleeve and pressing said conducting member through the end thereof toward said operative contact, and means normally permitting manual relative movements of the contacting conductors to permit selection at will of various contact points on the surface of one of the contacting conductors. v 2ft. In wireless telegraphy, a wave responsive device comprising a mass of detecting material, and a relatively eccentrically mounted cooperating member comprising an electrically conducting element, and means to hold the two members so that at least one of them shall have a relative rotative or lateral movement, and so that at' least one of them shall have a relative lon-. gitudinal movement in a line parallel with but eccentric to the wave detecting material or the electrical conductor axis, in combination with means to hold at least one of said members under tension and to adjust them to make a good contact between the wave detecting material and the electrically conducting element in a line not coincident with both of the axes of the same.

25; In wireless telegraphy, a wave responsive device comprising a mass of detecting material, and a relatively eccentrically 'mounted cooperating member comprising an electrically conducting element, and means to hold the two members so that at least one of them shall have a relative rotative or lateral movement, and so that at least one 'of them shall have a relative longitudinal movement in a line parallel with but eccentric to the Wave detecting material or the electrical conductor axis, in combination with means to hold at least one of thesaid members under tension and to adjust them to make a good contact between the wave detecting material and the electrically conducting element in a line not coincident with both of the axes of the same,'- one at least of the said members being of greater diameter atthe base of the same han at the operative junction of the membrs- GREENLEAF WHITTIER PICKARD. Witnesses:

EDWARD H. ROWELL, MYRA STAcKroLE HOWELL. 

